Republicans published a pamphlet claiming that Peace Democrats and the Confederates made a secret agreement.

Turning Points (General Election):

The inconsistent political compromises made at the Democratic National Convention undermined McClellan’s campaign.

September 1864 Frémont withdrew from the campaign to better the chances of defeating McClellan.

Clear military victories for the Union signaling the end of the war with a Union victory: General William Tecumseh Sherman marched towards Atlanta, Ulysses S. Grant pushed Confederate General Robert E. Lee into the outer defenses of Richmond.

October 1864, Joseph Holt the judge advocate general of the army wrote a report that claimed there were Confederate sympathizers in the North, reportedly their societies were affiliated with the Democratic Party. 10,000 copies of the report was distributed.

Lincoln won more than 70 percent of the ballots cast by soldiers.

Popular Campaign Slogans:

Republican (Union Party):Abraham Lincoln: “Don’t swap horses in the middle of the stream”

Democratic Party complains of “four years of failure to restore the Union by the experiment of war”

A typical Democratic barb:

“Honest Old Abe, when the war first began,

Denied abolition was part of his plan;

Honest old Abe has since made a decree,

The War must go on till the slaves all are free.

As both can’t be honest, will some one tell how,

If Honest Abe then, he is Honest Abe now?”

Defining Quotation (Winning Candidate):

“We cannot have free government without elections. If the rebellion could force us to forgo, or postpone a national election it might fairly claim to have already conquered and ruined us.” Abraham Lincoln

I am very grateful for the renewed confidence which has been accorded to me, both by the convention and by the National [Union] League. I am not insensible at all to the personal compliment there is in this; yet I do not allow myself to believe that any but a small portion of it is to be appropriated as a personal compliment. The convention and the nation, I am assured, are alike animated by a higher view of the interests of the country for the present and the great future, and that part I am entitled to appropriate as a compliment is only that part which I may lay hold of as being the opinion of the convention and of the League, that I am not entirely unworthy to be instructed with the place I have occupied for the last three years. I have not permitted myself, gentlemen, to conclude that I am the best man in the country; but I am reminded, in this connection, of a story of an old Dutch farmer, who remarked to a companion once that ‘it was not best to swap horses when crossing streams.” Abraham Lincoln, June 9, 1864

Defining Quotation (Losing Candidate):

“I could not look in the face my gallant comrades of the army and navy, who have survived so many bloody battles, and tell them that their labor and the sacrifice of so many of our slain and wounded brethren had been in vain.” George McClellan

“Union with Slavery.” John C. Frémont on the Democratic Party platform

Campaign Quotes:

“Mr. Lincoln is already beaten. He cannot be elected.” Horace Greeley

Election Issues:

Only 24states participated, 11 seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America

Three new states participated for the first time: Nevada, West Virginia, and Kansas.

The reconstructed portions of Tennessee and Louisiana elected presidential electors, although Congress did not count their votes.

June 7-8, 1864: Union National Convention convenes at Front Street Theatre, nominates on the 1st ballot Abraham Lincoln (Illinois) for President and Andrew Johnson (Tennessee) for Vice President. Republicans and war Democrats unite together and form the “Nation Union” Party. They support Abraham Lincoln and his policies. All Northern states participate.

June 9, 1864: Abraham Lincoln accepts the Union Party’s nomination for President: “I have not permitted myself, gentlemen, to conclude that I am the best man in the country; but I am reminded, in this connection, of a story of an old Dutch farmer, who remarked to a companion once that ‘it was not best to swap horses when crossing streams.”

August 29-31, 1864: Democratic National Convention convenes at The Amphitheatre, Chicago, Horatio Seymour (New York) serves chairman. Pro-war General George B. McClellan (New Jersey) is nominated on the 1st ballot, anti-war Representative George H. Pendleton (Ohio) is nominated for Vice President. The Democratic Party divides over the war and slavery into different factions: War Democrats; Peace Democrats; Moderate Peace Democrats; Radical Peace Democrats (Copperheads) The inconsistent political compromises that is made at the Democratic National Convention undermines McClellan’s campaign.

May 7-September 2, 1864: Atlanta Campaign led by General William Tecumseh Sherman

September 1-2, 1864: General John Hood and Confederates evacuate from Atlanta, Georgia.

September 3, 1864: General William Tecumseh Sherman and Union forces occupy Atlanta.

September 1864: Frémont withdraws from the campaign to better the chances of defeating McClellan.

October 31, 1864: Nevada joins the Union only a few days prior to Election Day and appoints electors.

Union victories by Admiral Farragut in Alabama and General Sherman in Atlanta. November 8, 1864: Only 24states participate in the election, 11 seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. Three new states participate for the first time: Nevada, West Virginia, and Kansas. The reconstructed portions of Tennessee and Louisiana elect presidential electors, although Congress does not count their votes.Union Party,Abraham Lincoln is reelected President, Andrew Johnson is elected Vice President; Lincoln wins more than 70 percent of the ballots cast by soldiers.

November 15, 1864: General Sherman begins his march to the sea by leaving Union captured Atlanta, uses “total warfare.”

December 7, 1864: Presidential Electors cast their electoral votes in their states capitals.

February 8, 1865: Joint session of Congress in the U.S. House chamber count the electoral votes.

Election 2016

About the Editor

Bonnie K. Goodman, BA, MLIS is a journalist, librarian, editor, & historian. She has a BA in History & Art History, and a Masters in Library and Information Studies both from McGill University, and has done graduate work in Jewish history at Concordia University as part of the MA in Judaic Studies. She wrote regularly about politics, news, education, and Judaism for Examiner.com until the publication closed in July 2016. She is the editor of History Musings... History, News & Politics, which covers the Presidency, Congress, and history news. She has previously covered the 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 Presidential campaigns & 2010 and 2014 midterm elections. She was also the former Editor/Features Editor for the History News Network (HNN), and had been working for HNN from 2004-2010.... READ MORE

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